Sunday morning started out early for a few. "Toyota" Joe and Jim Hunter took off before sunrise to refill our fuel cans for the trail. The rest of us were up, packed, fed, and ready to run the trail by 8:30. Joe and Jim returned to camp with fuel, ice bags, and big pancake breakfasts to share! No one but Michal Moran could eat... Oh well.

Loon Lake Staging Area

By 9:00am we were ready for our Rubicon trail adventure. Dan Wilson volenteered to go ahead of the group and capture us on video over Loon Lake dam - Dan WIlson had plans for camping with us over the weekend, yet Saturday's trail ride was a new experience 4wheeling for him gaining a great deal of confidence with his stock '79 Bronco off-road. He'll never be the same from this day forward camping off-road with his family and the Bronco!

the infamous - Granite Bowl (Slab)

Only a short distance from our staging area at Loon Lake opens up into a wide expanse of granite. A beautiful view in all directions - especially across the granite bowl looking at the rock face of Devils Peak (Elev 7541). Once on the granite, the traction is not a problem (or maybe too much could be a problem for locked up differentials). It's like the freeway system in concrete and routes across it. Keep an eye on the path - following the oil leaks from thousands of previous vehicles and drivers.

Shortly after the granite bowl our trail leads us around the northern reaches of Loon Lake crossing over Ellis Creek and into lots of good wheeling trails before reaching Walker's Rock.

First 2 Miles Along The Rubicon

At this point on the Rubicon trail - everything was a new experience. No "trail guide" to speak of - other then our book "4Wheeler's Guide to the Rubicon Trail" and that only detailed the major sections and obstacles. Expecting the Walker's Rock section soon, we were pleasently surprised with the trail conditions in-between.

Walker's Rock

Walker's Rock (Elev 6740) is our first published obstacle on the Rubicon trail out of Loon Lake and the granite bowl. The obstacle has three sections - one after another. Starting with a very rocky trail having a tight (for Big Broncos) right corner up hill. With no breathing room the second section is upon ya - extreme trail with climbing and maneuvering over boulders closing with a left turn towards the top. Though the first two sections, a little room is available to prepare for the final section - Frame Bender. This is a sandstone area, when dry offers lots of traction - but certainly puts the body/frame into a twist!

Before Reaching Spider Lake

Little Sluice Box, Spider Lake Camp site

Reaching our camping site - just shy of Spider Lake by 5:30pm a group of us set out to scout where and what Little Sluice Box had to offer. Our camping site provided a great deal of room and beautiful panoramic views of the terrain! An awesome spot determined by Joe Chacon to be THE SPOT for our first Rubicon day. Thank you Joe!